Wood wind musical instrument.



Patented July 31, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEETI L N4 M9 KT. GSH m Lw N D Rm. S HUN SM" DW NT [A Wm H GP CA W A TTOR/VE rs G. STERNBERG.

WOOD WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

\w m b N M Patented July 31, 1917.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2 APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.]914- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE STERNBERG, OF AGANA, ISLAND OF GUAM.

WOOD WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed July 24, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonen Srnnnnnne, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Agafia, island of Guam, Mariana Islands, United States of America, have invented a new and useful Improvement in lVood lVind Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved keyboard which as applied to a clarinet has for its object a mechanism whereby the player is enabled to make all the notes and to actuate the complete mechanism simultaneously without shifting the fingers and without crossfingering.

In the drawings I Figure 1 is a plan view of a that soprano clarinet constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of Fig. 1 as it would appear on a flat surface.

Fig. 3 is a view of the auxiliary lever 00.

Fig. 4 shows a differently constructed lower keyboard whereon the fingering or manner of making the notes is the same as Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows an -e-flat soprano clarinet which fingers the same as Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 shows a -b-flat soprano clarinet which fingers the same as Fig. 2 with the exception of the throat notesg and a flat.

In the present invention, the body A of the clarinet is provided with nineteen sound holes, the said holes being normally open, and adapted to be closed by covers of the usual form, the said covers being mounted on arms or stems connected with sleeves, ex tending radially therefrom, and the sleeves are journaled on rods, fixed to the body of the instrument.

Keys are connected with sundry of the sleeves, and rings with others, for permitting the covers to be closed by the said rings or keys. The rods are supported by posts fixed to the body of the instrument, and the covers are normally held open by means of springs.

The posts are threaded or cemented in openings in the body of the instrument, and the rods pass through openings in the posts. One end of each rod is threaded to engage a similar opening in the post, and the other is provided with a transverse groove or kerf for en agement by a screw driver to permit the rods to be connected to or disconnected Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Serial No. ssasoo from the post. This is the usual method of mounting the covers, and for this reason it 1s not thought necessary to show the same in detail, the springs, rods, posts and sleeves being of the usual type.

The clarinet shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is as before stated, provided with nineteen sound holes, sundry of which are adapted to be closed by padded covers, and the sound holes are numbered from 1 to 19, the numbers being placed on the sound hole or on the cover.

All of the sound holes, with the exception of the 16th are arranged in approximate alinement longitudinally of the body of the instrument, and the 16th sound hole is on the opposite side from the other sound holes.

The covers of the sound holes 1 to 5 inclusive and 7 are arranged on a common rod, which is supported by a series of posts 21.

The sleeve 22 of the cover 1 is connected to the cover by means of a stem 23, and the said sleeve has an arm or extension 24: for a purpose to be presently described. The cover 3 is connected to a sleeve 25 by a stem 26, and this sleeve 25 has an arm or extension 27 extending in the opposite direction from the stem 26, and in the same direction as the arm 24 before mentioned.

The cover 4 is connected to a sleeve 28 by a stem 29, and a bar 31 is supported parallel with the sleeve 28 and in spaced relation by means of sleeves 30 and 30 which are journaled on the rod at the opposite ends of the sleeve 28. The bar 81 is connected to the sleeves 30 and 30 by arms 32, the said arms being integral with the sleeves and with the bar, and extending in the opposite direction from the stem 29.

This bar 31 extends beyond the stems 32 and one end of the bar underlies the arms or extensions 24 and 27. The other end of the bar underlies the arm or extension 33 extending laterally from a sleeve 34 to which the cover 5 is connected by means of a stem 35. The arm or extension 33 extends in the opposite direction from the stem 35, and at the same end of the sleeve, and at the opposite end the sleeve has an arm or extension 36 which underlies an angular arm 37 on a sleeve 38.

This sleeve 38 supports the cover 7, the said cover being connected with. the sleeve by a stem 39, and a ring 410 is also connected to the sleeve by means of a stem 41. This ring encircles the sound hole 6.

A key or fingerpiece 42 extends from the sleeve 28 in the same direction as the stem 29, and overlies the cover for the sound hole 5, in such a manner that when this fingerpiece or key 42 is depressed it will close the cover of the sound hole 5. The sleeve 28 has an extension 43 which overlies the bar 31, so that when the bar is lifted the covers of the sound holes 4 and 5 will be closed.

The cover for the sound hole 2 is connected to a sleeve 44 by means of a steam 45, and thissleeve 44 is mounted on a rod paral lel with the rod which supports the sleeves 22, 25, 30, 28, 34 and 38. These last named sleeves are supported by a common rod, which in turn is supported by six posts.

Posts are arranged between the adjacent ends of all of the sleeves except the sleeves 28 and- 30, there being no post between the adjacent ends of these sleeves. The rod which supports the sleeve 44 also supports a sleeve 46 in alinement with the sleeve 44, and this sleeve 46'has -a key or finger-piece 47 which overlies the cover of the sound hole 2.'

The rod which supports the sleeves 44 and 46 is supported by three posts 21, and the sleeve'46 has oppositely extending arms or extensions 48 and 49. The arm 48 overlies thearm 'or'extension 50 from the sleeve 25 insuch manner that when the finger-piece 47 is depressed to rock the sleeve 46, the

sleeve 25 will also be rocked in a direction to close the cover of the sound hole 3.

Levers 51 and 52 are arranged parallel with the posts that support the sleeves levers being on the opposite side of the above the "bar, the arrangement being such that *when the upper end of the lever is depressed,

the bar31 will be lifted, and since this bar engages beneath the arms or extensions 24- 2732 and is directly connected with the sleeve28, the said depression of the upper end of the lever'will simultaneously close the covers of 'thesound holes 1, 3, 4 and 5.

Since the arm 36 engages beneath the angular-arm 37 of the sleeve 38, the cover of "the 7th sound hole will also be closed. Thus "by. the movement'of a single lever 51, the

covers of the'sound holes 3, 4, 5and 7 may be simultaneously closed.

The lever 52 is so arranged that when the upper end thereof is depressed, the covers of the-sound holes 2 and 3 will be closed, the

cover of the sound hole 2 by the finger-piece 47, and the cover of the sound hole 3 by the engagement of the arms or extensions 48 and 50. By means of the finger-piece 47 the covers of the sound holes 2 and 3 may be simultaneously closed, while by means of the finger piece 42 the covers of the 1st, 3d, 4th and 5th'sound holes may be simultaneously closed.

lVith the finger on the ring 40 the sound holes 6 and 7 may be simultaneously closed. The covers of the 9th, 11th,'13th, 14th, 15th and 17th sound holes are connected with sleeves 5658 59--606162, respectively, by means of stems in the usual manner, and rings 63 and 64' are connected with the sleeves 58 and 59, respectively.

These rings 63 and 64 encircle the sound holes 10 and 12, and by depressing either ring, the sound hole which the ring encircles and the adjacent cover 11 or 13, as the case may be, may be simultaneously depressed. These sleeves 56585960 6162 are journaled on a common rod, which is supported by posts 21 in the usual manner, and in addition to the sleeves above mentioned, this post supports also two other sleeves 65 and 66, the sleeve 65 being between the sleeves 58 and 59, while the'sleeve 66 is between the sleeves 60 and 61;

A bar 67 is supported parallel with-the post that supports the sleeves 565859- 606162, the said bar being connected to the sleeves 56 and 66, by means of stems 68. The sleeve 56 has an arm or extension 69' which overlies the adjacent end of the bar 67, and the sleeves 61 and 62 have arms or extensions 70 and 71, respectively,which also overlie this bar.

In Fig. 3 is shown diagrammatically the arrangement of theextension bars, the extension bar 67 being-taken as an example.

It will be noted that this bar is connected by the extensions 68 with the sleeves 65 and 66, these sleeves being supported on a oo1nmon rod 224 mounted in the posts 21.

The arm or extension 71 is angular, and overlies the extremity of the bar.' The bar may be operated by means of a lever 72, which is secured to a sleeve 73 intermediate its ends, and the sleeve is journaled on posts 21 in the usual manner.

The lever 72 has an angular lug 74 at its upper end underlying the bar at approxi-- mately the center of the bar. By depressingthe lower end of the lever"the'bar will be lifted, and the lifting of the bar will si1nulmovement of the cover, the lug corresponding in function to the lug 43 before mentioned.

The cover of the 1 1th sound hole has an arm or extension 77 which overlies the cover of the 15th sound hole, in such manner that when this cover 14- is closed the cover 15 will also be closed. The cover of'the 18th sound hole is connected to a sleeve 78 journaled on a rod mounted parallel to the rod which supports the sleeve 62, and supported by posts 21 in the same manner.

This sleeve has a key or fingerpiece 79 at the lower end of the sleeve, and extending longitudinally of the sleeve in spaced relation. The 16th sound hole is encircled by a ring 80, which is secured to a sleeve 81 in the usual manner, and the said sleeve is supported by a rod parallel to the rod that supports the sleeve 61 and connected to posts in the usual manner. This sleeve 81 has a radial arm or extension 82 extending in the opposite direction from the ring 80, and this arm or extension engages beneath the arm or extension 71 of the sleeve 62.

By means of the ring 80 the sound holes 16 and 17 may be simultaneously closed, but the closing of the 17th sound hole does not affect the ring 80.

The cover of the 19th sound hole is connected to asleeve 83 by the usual stem and the said sleeve 83 is mounted on a rod parallel with the rod which supports the sleeve 81 and mounted in posts in the usual manner.

The sleeve 83 has a finger-piece or key 81 which lies adjacent to the ring 80, near enough to the said ring to permit a single finger to operate the ring or the key.

The bar 64 is arranged above the sleeve 73 of the 18th and 19th sound holes, and these covers are normally held closed by springs of ordinary construction.

It will be evident from the description that certain of the holes may be closed from two sources; for instance the covers 3, 5, 71, 11, 13, 15 and 17 may all be closed from two sources, while the cover of the 7th sound 7 hole may be closed from three sources.

In playing, the fingers of the player have a fixed permanent position on the instrument, and this position is as follows:

Commencing with the left hand, the thumb engages the ring 80; and with the tip of the thumb, that is, with a rocking movement of the thumb, the player can also open the cover of the 19th sound hole, by means of the finger-piece 8 1; the first finger of the left hand engages the cover 1 1, and this finger may simultaneously close the covers of the 141th and 15th sound holes; the same finger may also open the 18th sound hole; the second finger of the left hand engages the ring 61 which encircles the 12th sound hole, and this finger may simultaneously close the 12th and 13th sound holes; the third finger of the left hand engages the ring 63 at the 10th sound hole, and this finger may simultaneously close the sound holes 10 and 11; the fourth finger of the left hand operates the lever 51, and with this finger the player may simultaneously close the sound holes 1, 3, 4;, 5 and 7 On the right hand, the side of the hand will engage the lever 72, and by means of this lever the sound holes 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 may be simultaneously closed; the first finger of the right hand engages the 8th sound hole, which has neither ring nor cover; the second finger of the right hand engages the ring 10 which encircles the sound holes 6 and this finger may simultaneously close the sound holes 6 and 7; the third finger of the right hand engages the key or fingerpiece e12, and this finger may simultaneously close the 5th, 7th, 1th, 3d and 1st sound holes; the fourth finger of the right hand engages the lever 52, and this finger may simultaneously close the sound holes 2 and 3.

No shifting of the thumb on the ring 80, or the first finger of the left hand on the cover 14 is necessary, in order to operate the keys 81 and 7 9, respectively, the rocking of the thumb and the joint of the first finger serving this purpose. In closing the cover 18 with the first finger of the left hand, it is not necessary to open the covers 141 and 15, as the three covers may be held closed at the same time.

Certain notes are made in the following manner; to give an idea of the manner of playing:

The open note is a, that is, with all of the sound holes open except the 18th and 19th, the note of a will be given. The note 9 is made by closing the 16th and the 17th sound holes by means of the ring 16. The note f is made by closing the sound holes 16, 17, 14. and 15, that is, by the thumb and first finger of the left hand. The note 6 flat is made by the thumb, the first and second fingers of the left hand, and the note a sharp by the thumb and 1st, 2nd and 3d fingers of the left hand.

The cover 18 is a special hole for Z) fiat of the throat notes, and this cover may also be used as a register cover for the five lowest notes of the middle register. The cover 19 is the register cover, as in the usual clarinet.

The alt register is fingered by holding the thumb hole 16 closed, and the register key 19 open. The lever 72 is not used for the alt register with the result that the cover 9 is open for the notes 6 fiat, e and f, while the covers 9 and 11 are open for f sharp and g. The note a fiat in alt is controlled by the four fingers of the left hand, operating to close the rings, covers and. finger-pieces which are operated thereby.

The note 6 is made in the same manner as e fiat, except that the sound hole 8 is open. The note 7 in .alt is made by closing the covers operated by the first fingers of both right and left hands. The note f sharp is made by the first and second fingers of the right hand, while the note 9 is made by the first and second fingers of the left hand and the fourth finger of the right hand.

With the exception of the throat notes, theAlbert system of fingerings including cross fingerings canbe used in all registers.

In Fig. 4 a modified arrangement is shown inconnection with the covers of the 1st, 2nd, 3d, 4th, 5th and 7th sound holes. In this arrangement, the covers 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 are connected to sleeves 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89, respectively, by the usual stems, and these sleeves are mounted on two rods which are arranged in alinement with each other. The sleeves 85 and 86 together with a third sleeve 90, are arranged on one rod, while the sleeves 87,88 and 89 and a fourth sleeve 91 are arranged on the other rod.

The rod of the sleeves 85, 86 and 90 is supported by four posts 21, while the rod of the sleeves 87 88, 91 and 89 is also supported by four posts. The sleeve 90 is provided with an arm or extension 92, which ,overlies one end of a lever93. This lever 93 has a sleeve 93 intermediate its ends and transverse to the lever, and the said sleeve is journaled on a rod which is supported by posts 21, one of the posts also assisting to support the rod upon which the sleeves 85 and86 are journaled.

Each of the sleeves 85 and 86 has a curved arm or extension 94 and 95 respectively, and theseextensions overlie the extension 92' of the-sleeve 90. The arrangement is such that when the upper end of the lever 93 is depressed, the covers 1 and 3 will also be depressed This lever .93 is hinged at its upper end to one end ofan intermediate lever 96, and the lever 96 is hinged at the other end tothe adjacent end of anoperating lever 97.

The levers 96 and 97 have sleeves 98 and 99 journaled on the rods in the same manner as the sleeve 86 andaparallel therewith, and each of the rods supporting the sleeves 98 and 99 has one'end supported by one of the posts which support the rod of the sleeves 87, 88 and 89. 1

The sleeve 97, beforementioned, has an arm or extension 100 which overlies the lowerend of the lever 97, and each sleeve 88 and 89 has a curved arm or extension 101 which overlies the arm 100. A ring 102 encircles the sound hole 6, and this ring is connected to the sleeve 89, in such manner that by means of the ringthe sound holes 6 and 7 maybe simultaneously closed.

The sleeve 87 has a finger-piece 103 which .overlies the cover 5,. and by means of this finger-piece the covers 4 and 5 may be simultaneously closed. The cover 2 is connected to a sleeve 104 supported in the usual manner, in alinement with a sleeve 105, and this sleeve 105 has a finger-piece 106 corresponding to the finger-piece 47 and overlying the cover 2.

The sleeve 105 has oppositely extending arms or extensions 107 and 108, and the latter arm overlies one end of a lever 109, which is secured to a sleeve 110 intermediate its ends. The sleeve 110 is supported by the rods and posts in the usual manner and the arm 107 engages over an arm 111 con nected with the sleeve 86 of the cover 3.

In Fig. 5, the cover 1 is connected to a stem 112, extending radially from a sleeve 113, mounted on the usual. rod (not shown) supported by posts 21 in the usual manner. This sleeve 113 has an extension 114, extending in the opposite direction to the stem 112,

and hinged to one end of a lever 115 having 7 at the other end a finger-piece and connected to a sleeve 116 mounted in the usual manner, and supported by the posts 21.

The cover 2 is connected to a sleeve 117 supported in the usual manner, and the cover 2 is connected with a sleeve 118 supported on the same rod with the sleeve 117 and in alinement therewith. This sleeve 118 has a finger-piece 119 overlying the cover 2*, in such manner that the covers 2 and 2 may be operated simultaneously.

The cover 3 is secured to one end of a sleeve 120, mounted on a rod, which in addi tion to the sleeve 120 supports sleeves 121, 122, 123 and 124. These sleeves are supported by a single rod which is mounted on posts 21 in the usual manner, and the sleeve 121 has a finger-piece 125 which overlies the cover 3.

The sleeve 121 is also provided with an extension 126, which engages beneath one end of a cross lever 127 on the sleeve 118, and a lever 128 secured to a sleeve 129 engages at one end beneath the cross lever 127, the other end of the lever 128 having a fin ger-piece as shown. The sleeve 129 is sup ported in the usual manner, and it will be evident that when the finger-piece on the said lever 128 is depressed the covers 2, 2 and 3 may be simultaneously closed.

The cross lever 127 actuates the sleeve 121 and the sleeve 118, and the finger-piece 119 actuates the sleeve 117. The cover 4 is connected to the sleeve 122, and this sleeve 122 has an extension 130, which underlies an angular extension or arm 131 on 'the sleeve which encircles the sound hole 6 has an angular arm 136 overlying an extension 137 on the sleeve 123. The cover 7 is secured to the same sleeve 124 as the ring 135, and it will be evident from the description that when the finger-piece of the lever 115 is depressed, the covers 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 will be depressed, as will also the ring 135.

By means of the lever 128, the covers 2, 2 and 3 may be closed as above stated, and with one finger on the cover 5, the covers 5 and 7 may be closed, and by slightly rocking the finger the cover 4 may be closed through the finger-piece 132. The sound hole 8 is open and the sound hole 9 is secured to the sleeve 138.

The rod that supports the sleeve 138 supports also the sleeves 139, 140, 141, 142, 143 and 144, the said sleeves being in alinement. The covers 10 and 12 are mounted to rock on the sleeves 138 and 139, respectively, in such manner that the covers may be depressed without affecting the sleeves 138 and 139. c

The cover 11 is connected to the sleeve 139, the cover 13 to the sleeve 140, and the cover 17 to the sleeve 144. The sleeve 138 has an extension 145 which overlies one end of a bar 146, the said bar being parallel with the rod that supports the sleeves 138 to 144, inclusive, and connected thereto by stems 147.

Arms or extensions 148, 149, and 150 extend radially from the sleeves 139, 141 and 143, the three arms overlying the bar 146, and the sleeve 144 has an angular extension 151 overlying the adjacent end of the said bar. This bar 146 has an arm 152, which overlies the adjacent end of a lever 153 secured transversely of a sleeve 154, supported at right angles to the axis of the sleeves 138 to 144 in the usual manner. This lever 153 has afinger-piece at the opposite end and it will be evident that when the finger-piece is depressed the covers 9, 11, 13 and 17 will be closed.

The ring 157 which encircles the sound hole 16 is connected to a sleeve 155 supported in the usual manner parallel with the sleeves 138 to 144, and this sleeve 155 has an arm 156 which underlies the angular arm 151 in such manner that when the ring 157 encircling the sound hole 16 is depressed, the cover 17 will be closed. 7

The cover 14 is connected to a sleeve 158, supported in alinement with two other sleeves 159 and 160 on a common rod. The cover 14 has a finger-piece 161 overlying the cover 15, and the sleeve 159 has an arm 162 which underlies an arm 163 on the sleeve 143. "The cover 18 is secured to the sleeve 160, and this sleeve has a finger-piece 164 extending approximately parallel to the sleeve 159 in spaced relation.

The sleeve 158 has a limiting stop or extension 165, for limiting the opening move ment of the cover 14. By means of the finger-piece 164 the cover 18 may be opened and by means of the finger piece on the cover 14 the covers 14 and 15 may be simultaneously closed.

In this construction the cover 2 is not used in making the chromatic scale, being used only as a vent opening, to prevent a mufiied tone of the lower a sharp of the middle reg ister. In the said construction the position of the second finger of the left hand is intermediate the covers 12 and 13, and the said finger is intended to simultaneously control both covers. It will be noticed that these covers are arranged very near each other. In like manner, the position of the third finger of the left hand is intermediate the covers 10 and 11, and the said finger may control the covers simultaneously. The fourth finger of the left hand controls the lever 115, and the fourth finger of the right hand controls the lever 128.

The third finger of the right hand may simultaneously control the covers 4 and 5.

In Fig. 6, the cover 1 is connected to a sleeve 166 supported in alinement with a second sleeve 167, and the sleeve 166 has an angular arm 168 which overlies the extension 169 on the sleeve 167. The sleeve 167 has an extension 170 which underlies one end of a lever consisting of portions 171 and 171 parallel but oifset laterally from each other, and connected to a common sleeve 172.

The lever 171-171 is hinged at the portion 171 to the adjacent end of a lever 173, secured to a sleeve 174 mounted parallel with the sleeve 172, and this lever 173 has a finger-piece at its other end. The cover 2 is connected to a sleeve 17 5 journaled parallel with the sleeves 166, 167, and on the same rod is a second sleeve 17 6, to which the cover 3 is connected.

The sleeve 175 has an arm 177 which overlies an arm 178 on a sleeve 179 journaled at right angles to the sleeves 17 5 and 176, and the sleeve 17 9 has a finger-piece 180. The arm 178 and finger-piece 180 may be considered a lever extending transversely of the sleeve 17 9, and when the finger-piece 180 is depressed, the covers 2 and 3 will be simultaneously closed.

The sleeve 176 has an arm 181 underlying the portion 171 of the lever 171-171 and an angular arm 191 which overles the stem or extension 177 on the sleeve 17 5.

The cover 4 is connected to a sleeve 182 which is journaled on the same rod with other sleeves 183, 184 and 185, the sleeve 183 supporting the cover 5, while the sleeve 185 supports the cover 7, and a ring 186 encircling the sound hole 6. The sleeve 182 has a finger piece 190 which overlies the cover 5. The sleeves 183, 184 and 185 have arms 187, 188 and 189, respectively, extendspaced parallel extensions 205,

bar

'in'g in the same direction, the arms 187 and 189 overlying the arm 188, which in turn overlies the adjacent end of the lever 173.

' With the above construction, it will be evident that when the finger-piece of the lever 173 is depressed, the covers 1,3, 5 and 7 will be simultaneously closed. IVhen the finger-piece 180 is depressed, the covers 2 and 3 will be simultaneously closed, and this finger-piece extends alongside the cover 4- so near that the finger-piece and the cover may be controlled by thesame finger, namelythe fourth finger of the right hand.

i The third finger of the right hand simultaneously controls the covers 4 and '5 by means of the finger-piece 190 and the cover 5. The same finger will also control the cover 7 and the ring encircling the sound hole 6. The lever 173 is controlled by the fourth finger of the left hand. The sound hole 9 is open, and the cover 9 is secured to a sleeve 192 which is mounted on the same rod with the sleeves 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, and 200.

The sleeve 194 supports the cover 11, and a ring 201 encircling the sound hole 10. The sleeve 196 supports the cover 13, and a ring 202 encirclingthe sound hole 12. The sleeve 197 supports the cover 15, and a ring 203 encircling the sound hole 14'. The sleeve 199 supports the cover 16, and the sleeve 200 supports the cover 17. A bar 204 is connected to the sleeves 195 and 198 by and arms or extensions 206, 207, 208, 209 and 210 extend from the sleeves 192, 194, 196, 197 and 200, to overlie the said bar 204.

The arrangement-is such that when the 204 is lifted, the covers 9, 11, 13 and 15 will be simultaneously closed, as will also the cover 16 through a finger-piece'2l1 extending laterally from the cover 15 and overlying the cover 16. A lever 212 extending transversely of the sleeve 213 is provided at its lower end with a finger-piece and at its upper end with an angular lug 214 underlying the bar 204, the that when the outer end or finger-piece of the lever is depressed the bar 204 will be lifted. I

A ring 215 encircles the sound hole 15*, and the said ring is secured to a sleeve 216 supported parallel with the sleeves 192 and 200. The sleeve 216 has an arm 217 which underlies the angular extension 210 from the sleeve 200, the

arrangement being such that when the ring 215 is depressed the cover 17 will be closed.

The cover 18 is secured to the sleeve 218, mounted parallel with the sleeves 192 to 200, and having a finger-piece 219 which extends approximately parallel with the fingerpiece 199, in spaced relation. The cover '19 is connected to a sleeve 220 parallelwith the'sleeve 200, by a long inclined stem 221.

' 15*, and the cover 17 arrangement being such engages beneath an extension 224 on the sleeve 198 to permit the finger piece 222 to close the cover 16 while opening the sound hole 19. This construction provides an automatic arrangement whereby the note high (Z is made by means of the cover 15 the same as in Fig. 2 because the cover 16 will be held automatically closed when the cover 19 is open. p

In the construction of Fig. 6 the thumbhole 15 makes the note 9, as in the ordinary clarinet, whereas, in Figs. 2 and 5, the sixteenth or thumb-hole makes the note 9 sharp.

In Fig. 6 the action of the thumb on the ring 215 will simultaneously close the hole left hand closesthe hole 14, and simultaneously the holes 15 and 16, the ring 203 at the sound hole 14 being connected to the same sleeve as the cover 15, and the said cover having the finger-piece 119 overlying the cover 16. The lever 211 should simultaneously close the covers 9, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17, and this lever is operated by the right hand.

The tip of the thumb on the finger-piece 222 may open the cover 19.which is normally I closed and simultaneously close the cover 17 which is normally open.

The first finger of the In Fig. 5 the lever 153 controls the action of the extension bar 146 pandthis bar controls the cover 15 through the extensions 150,

162, 163 and the sleeve 143. That is, when the bar 146 islifted, the sleeve 143 will be rocked, and will in turnrock the sleeve 159 to close the cover 15.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the levers 115 and 173 control the same keys, namely the keys 1, 3, 5 and 7.

I claim as new 7 1. A wood wind musical instrument of the flute type comprising a tube'having sound holes, a plurality of series of sleeves, the members of each series of sleeves being arranged longitudinally of the tube and alongside the sound holes, one seriesof sleeves be ing at one end of the tube and the other series at the other end and on the-opposite side of the sound holes, sleeves of each series carrying open rings encircling the adjacent sound holes, and

finger pieces overlying adjacent :covers for;

sundry of said the purpose specified, said levers being adapted for engagement by the hands of the player to permit the levers to be operated Without shifting the fingers.

2. A Wood Wind instrument of the flute type, comprising a tube having sound holes, a plurality of series of sleeves, the members of each series of sleeves being arranged longitudinally of the tube and alongside the sound holes, one series of sleeves being at one end of the tube and the other series at the other end and on the opposite side of the sound holes sundry of said sleeves of each series carrying open rings enrircling the adjacent sound holes and others of said sleeves 15 carrying padded covers adapted to close adjacent sound holes, sundry of the sleeves having arms extending in the opposite direction to the rings or covers, a lever pivoted on the tube adjacent to each series of sleeves, mechanism between each lever and the arms of adjacent sleeves for simultaneously oscillating said sleeves, said levers being adapted for engagement by the hands of the player to permit the levers to be operated Without shifting the fingers.

GEORGE STERNBERG.

Witnesses:

J. H. UNDERWoon, E. G. F0111).

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

